The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23

Au1O VI loss. Au 10 O AoAhNSy " ASs
them wait until old enough to choose.
IL we attempt that other denominations
more enterprising will not permit us to
carry out such resolutions. They seek
something religious to lean upon until
they are strong enough to choose, and
in this period it is inhuman to abandon
them without religious culture. We
have tried this until we have driven
the majority Of our children from US
to those who will extend some sort of
care to their souls. Have we not pur-
sued that plan long enough? And the
same principle is true of all who are
babes in Christi cyphers if you please.
1t has been said that while the ear
bears, the tassel by its pollen gives
character to the growing corn. So
while the cyphers of society bear its
burdens, the significant figures de-
termine their character. We require
both sorts Of figures in Christian
churches to-day and we want them all
filed with Christian desire and motive.
Now bear in mind, cypher is not
nothing, but in society it is an element
with religious hunger, but is as yet
unawakened; has only dreams and
vague hopes, without clear convictions
or controlling faith. You know these
are very numerous, and they will drift
somewhere and swell the current Of
some faith; while significant figures
have clear convictions, settled faith. II
our church would only be Industrious
in gathering in those who as yet only
dream of Universalism-hope for cur
principles especially the young, and
drift them into our current Of faith
that they may there awaken, they will
not depart or fall away. If they dream
of the loving Father and the merciful
Christ ''saving even the lost," and are
drifted into some partialist church, as
they awaken they will ripen into
agnosticism or infidelity. Our people
make great mistake in making too
little of church Identification and in
waiting too long with thek children
before working to Develop definite
religious life. Others do not wait.
Children dream of religion very young,
and hence demand religious society,
and tangible devotion.
Family worship is Of great value to
them. A mothers prayers are remem-
bered when the playhouse is forgotten.
Now these holy dreams are ethe,promise
of definite convictions; they ripen best
in warm religious sentiment, yea, even
heated with enthusiasm and Jealous
with emotion and visible works. They
need to be ranged at the right of-aignifi-
cant figures, of those of settled convic-
tions, to work with them in multiplying
religious life. Our policy has been to
keep down emotion, curb enthusiasm,
to wait and take things eoolly. tits
mistaken policy. God made the emo
tions and kindled zeal ON purpose to
awaken the inner life, and usually
people old or young, who are near this
awakening, seek and demand this at
mosphere of religious zeal and emo.
tional love for God. They complain
THAT they fail to find this atour churches
and they go elsewhere, go dreaming OF
the loving Father of all, but are made
to stand for and multiply sentiment
that would cast away half of those they
love. Such training develops hypoorites
and infidels. The mass of cur church
are. gathered only after they are awak-
ened and have become disgusted with
other denominations. They come by
convictions, but without the enthusi-
asm of their first love. They come
because they rise above the drift
where they were taught. But there
are thousands of others who belong to
! us, who are not resolute enough to
break away from where they never
should have been and never would have
been butfor our mistaken policy. We
see them all around us, those who in
private say they believe our doetrines,
but they attend ether churches, whose
doctrines they disbelieve, because that
drift ia kept warm and with a strong
current. HOW came they there? Why
do they Semain2 Because we do not
gather them home. Why do we not
go to them with helping hand? Go to
them with what help they need, a
drift! A penteeostal drift They are
not always logical, but they are Jealous.
They walk by faith, they are useful;
they do not argue their way to heaven.
They work up those glorious heights!
Now, desire to see the prejudice
against this class removed; we need
them and they need US. True, as you say,
they May stand for nothing very definite
when alone, but they are very signii-
cant when ranged on the right of
significant figures, when rightly at
work for the Lord. And those signih.
cant figures amount to but little with
out them. Our weakness has been,
each has desired to be so very in
dependent that our churches have be-
come very lonesome. We should study
now to learn how very dependent we
are. Our very independence is made